Binder.



G. W. PHELPS.

BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.2I. 1916.

1,223,103. Patented Apr. 17; 1917.

IN V EN TOR.

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GEORGE W. PHELPS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 17, 1917.

Application filed August 21, 1916. Serial No. 115,987.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. PHELPS, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Binders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to binders and consists in anew and improved means for firmly and securely binding together a considerable number of sheets of paper or other material. It was devised and is particularly adapted to wall paper sample books in which the sheets are heavy and in use there is imposed a severe and constant strain on the binder or means by which the sheets are secured together; but my invention may be used as a binder for books and collections of sheets of different character in which either the sheets are permanently secured together or temporarily as in loose leaf ledgers. 1

Heretofore the usual means by which wall paper samples and similar collections of samples were secured together to make up a book consisted in hollow metal posts extending through the sheets or on which the sheets were threaded and in 1 these posts were inserted bolts provided with nuts, or rivets provided with washers. 'But under the strain of constant use these fastening means worked loose or the sheets broke from the fasteners. 1

My improved means are very simple and consist in what I call a tongue and groove binder wherein the sheets are secured together by one means and a second means is then adjusted in place which prevents the first means from being displaced and also takes up all the strain and relieves the first means thereof so that practically an inde structible binder is provided. The first means or initial means secure the sheets to gether. The second means is protective and strain relieving.

My invention will be understood by reference to the drawing herein in which the reference numerals of this description indicate the corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is an isometric view showing my invention applied to the end of a pile of sheets. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the preceding. In Figs. 8, 4L and 5 is shown a modification of my invention adapted for loose leaf volumes; Fig. 3 is an isometric view corresponding to Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section corresponding to Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross section of the protective channel.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2 in which a simple form of binder is shown, 1 indicates a pile of sheets and 22 the covers preferably used and made ofheavier material. To these covers and on their upper and lower faces are secured strips 33 of some rather stifi and heavy material for instance metal or fiber. These are arranged on the upper and lower faces at the end of the covers and sheets at which they are socured together which is effected by nails H, rivets or other. similar means which are the first and initial means whereby the sheets and covers are secured together. As shown the nails are inserted from each'side and perforate the strips adj acent their :outer edges leaving their inner edges 5 free to form tongues 55. These strips may be as long as the sheets are wide but preferably shorter as shown. g

The sheets having been secured together by the nails as shown I provide as a secondary strain relieving means a channel piece 6, preferably of thin sheet metal having an interior width substantially equal to the thickness of the pileof sheets or Volume and 1 having inturned flanges 8'8 forming the grooves. This channel is adapted to beslipped in place over the end of the pile secured together by nails as shown with the flanges or grooves engaging the tongues as shown and when so in position it will be seen that this channel absolutely prevents the nails or rivets coming out or working loose and also takes up and relieves said initial fastening means of all the strain incident to the use of the volume and yet the nails and the nails alone perform the function of securingthe sheets together.

This channel also covers and conceals the strips to the outer edge and the tongue of the strip then freed by making a out along a portion of the end edges aa of the strlp and along the longitudinal edge I).

The same .tongue and groove securing means may be adapted to the loose leaf structure in which the sheets may be inserted and removed at will and which may greatly vary in thickness. A desirable modification of my invention for such purpose is shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. Here 1 indicates the pile, 2 the covers and 3 the strips secured to the covers having the free edges or tongues 5. But instead of nails there are provided adjustable posts formed of telescopingly arranged tubular members 101l inclosing a compression spring 12. The sheets are strung upon these posts and the upper tube 10 is forced upwardly by the spring 12.

The channel in this case is formed of two corresponding halves, 13 and 1%, each having the inturned flanges 88 forming above and below the groove to engage with the tongue and the half having the inturned end flanges 15 forming a groove to receive the end edge of the other half.

A suitable means is provided for locking the half on the other after they have been adjusted to receive the pile of sheets of the desired thickness, for instance a locking piece 20 having at one end a pin 21 provided with a thumb piece 22 and a nut 23, said locking piece being carried on one of the channel halves and the pin extending through a slot 23 in the other. From the pin extends the shank, preferably flat and resilient and carrying a tip 28 which engages with holes 29 formed in the two halves. When it is desired to readjust the halves one on the other the pin is loosened by means of the thumb-piece whereupon the tip may be sprung out from the engaging holes, the

halves of the channel moved together or separated to aflord the desired space and the thumb piece then tightened whereupon the two halves are locked securely together in readjusted position. A strip 27 may be secured on the inner surface of the inner channel or the one provided with the slot to engage with the nut and permit the turning of the pin.

In all positions of the two halves, whether forming a narrower or a wider channel piece, the springs hold up the posts into engagement with the upper channel so there is no possibility of sheets being displaced and slipping back.

This binder has one advantage over the clamps or structures commonly used, for loose leaf ledgers, in that those commonly have posts with projecting ends, nuts, etc., while in mine the upper and lower surfaces are smooth and unbroken the only projections being the locking pieces on the ends.

The structures here described should be considered as illustrative of my invention and not in a limiting sense for so far as the mechanical construction is concerned my invention may be much modified and embodied in a variety or forms without departing from the spirit thereof for the essential features are as described, that is the nails or other initial locking means and the secondary or protective means in the form of a channel to be slipped over the end of the volume or pile of sheets and retained in position by means of a tongue or other projection on one part engaging with a groove on the other.

Having described my invention I claim,

1. A binder of the character described comprising means for securing the sheets in position consisting of securing strips attached to each side of the sheets by suitable securing means and a detachable strain resisting channel member provided with inturned flanges to underlie the securing strips to be locked in position thereby substantially as described.

2. A binder of the character described comprising means for securing the sheets in position consisting of securing strips secured to each side of the sheets to be bound, securing means adapted to secure the sheets and the strips in position and a channel member adapted to have interlocking engagement with the strips and said channel member being formed of relatively adjustable members and means for securing said members in position.

3. A binder of the character described comprising means for securing the sheets in position consisting of securing strips arranged on each side of the sheets to be bound, extensible securing posts adapted to secure the sheets and strips in position and a channel member adapted to have interlocking engagement with the strips, said channel member being adapted to inclose the securing strips and posts and comprising relatively adjustable members adapted to be slidably interlocked and means for securing the members in their adjusted positions.

4. A binder of the character described comprising means for securing the sheets in position consisting of fiat securing strips arranged on each side of the sheets to be 'bound, two part extensible securing posts adapted to secure the sheets and strips, said posts being of tubular form in telescopic engagement, and compression springs contained within the posts, and a channel protective member provided with inturned tightening bolts and securing arms confianges in underlying engagement with the nected therewith and provided with looking strips, said channel member being adapted pins fitted to registering apertures in the 10 to inclose the securing means and comprischannel members substantially as described.

5 ing relatively adjustable members adapted In testimony whereof I- have signed my to be slidably interlocked and means for sename to this specification. curing the members together consisting of GEORGE W. PHELPS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

